Welcome to Basel-Stadt - Kanton Basel-Stadt
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Kanton Basel-Stadt
Welcome
to Basel-Stadt
1
Welcome to Basel-Stadt
People who move to a new place must first reorient themselves, be-
cause nothing is the way it used to be. This begins with the most
mundane, everyday considerations: where does the rubbish go?
But soon somewhat more difficult questions emerge. Where do I
have to register my car? Where will my child go to school? And what
am I going to do in my free time when I hardly know anyone in my
new home?
This brochure is meant to help you to settle down in your new place
of residence. But we not only want you to know what forms you
have to fill out; we want you to have a sense of well-being in Basel
and soon no longer feel like a newcomer, but rather as a part of this
city canton. On the following pages you will find some information
Everyday life
that are intended to help you settle into Basel and the QR codes The canton of Basel-Stadt has a modern administration at its dis-
lead you to useful addresses on the various topics. posal which fosters uncomplicated dealings with the inhabitants.
The central institution for this contact is the Customer Centre of the
1 Everyday life Residential Registration Office, with a broad range of services on
offer.
4 Children, youth and families
7 Education
11 Culture
14 Carnival
16 Green areas
18 Sport
20 Health
22 Integration
24 Economy and employment
26 Fairs and markets
28 Mobility
30 Politics
Publisher: Präsidialdepartement des Kantons Basel-Stadt,
Staatskanzlei, Kommunikation
Design: aplus caruso gmbh
Pictures: foto-werk gmbh, Michael Fritschi; shutterstock (Pages 14 /15, BASEL, SWITZER-
LAND – FEBRUARY, 23. The Carnival at Basel (Basle – Switzerland) in the year 2015.
The picture shows some costumed people on February 23, 2015.)
Andreas Cortellini (Portraits Page 32)
Printing: Werner Druck
For corrections and additions please contact:
Präsidialdepartement des Kantons Basel-Stadt, Staatskanzlei, Kommunikation,
Rathaus, Marktplatz 9, 4001 Basel, Tel. 061 267 86 54
All rights reserved, © Kanton Basel-Stadt, www.bs.ch
Status: January 2023
1
Everyday life Everyday life
Residential Registration Office Energy and drinking water
The Residential Registration Office is also specifically the first con- The canton of Basel-Stadt is supplied with energy and drinking wa-
tact point for people who are moving to Basel and must deal with ter by the Industrielle Werke (IWB). So that your energy and water
their residency status in the canton. It records the data concerning consumption can be paid for correctly, please notify the IWB of any
all Swiss and foreign inhabitants. This includes, for example, chang- move by one week beforehand at the latest.
es in marital status, address changes, name changes, births and
deaths.
Rented housing
The Residential Registration Office gives advice to newcomers and If you live in a rental house or apartment, your landlord is the con-
issues certificates and confirmations. In addition information and tact person for most matters. In contrast with many other countries,
forms from other cantonal departments can be obtained here. Pass- in Switzerland the kitchens in rental accommodations are part of the
ports and identity cards for Swiss citizens are issued by the pass- basic equipment, and a common laundry is available to the tenants.
port office. It also handles lost property and issues certifications
and apostilles.
Shopping
In Basel there are countless possibilities for shopping. Most busi-
Permits nesses are open in the evening during the week until 6.30 pm, some
Personal advice is offered at the contact points in the Residential until 8 pm. In the inner city most businesses close on Saturday at
Registration Office, at the motor vehicle inspection department and 5 pm or 6 pm, and in some outer districts somewhat earlier. On Sun-
at the building and traffic department. In some cases permits from days and public holidays you can shop in the railway stations, at
other offices can also be applied for there. many petrol stations and in a few selected grocery shops located
over the whole city. If you want to shop across the border in the
neighbouring countries, you must comply with the appropriate cus-
Keeping animals toms regulations, since Switzerland does not belong to the Europe-
As a rule keeping pets does not require a permit in the canton of Ba- an Union and certain goods are subject to customs duties when im-
sel-Stadt (exception: potentially dangerous dogs). However, when ported.
crossing the border, vaccination rules and / or special import regula-
tions apply to many animals. Various regulations concerning keep-
ing them must also be complied with. And all animals must be ac- Eating out
commodated and cared for in a manner appropriate to their species. Restaurants in Basel and its surroundings enjoy a good reputation.
In addition dogs must be registered or re-registered for taxation with They are varied and offer something for every taste: the choice
the veterinary office and also with AMICUS, and must carry a micro- ranges from the cosy neighbourhood pub to the gourmet temple
chip. with stars and an award-winning chef. And as far as the type of cui-
sine is concerned, the Basel region knows no borders: you can
choose between regional dishes and gastronomic delicacies from
Waste disposal all over the world.
Daily tasks include, for example, the disposal of waste materials. In ‐
the canton of Basel-Stadt household rubbish – which by the way is
called “Hauskehricht” in Switzerland – is collected twice a week.
What districts are served on what days of the week is noted on the
waste disposal calendar, which is supplied once a year or can be
obtained in the Customer Centre of the Residential Registration Of-
fice and at police stations. For your “Hauskehricht” you must use the
official rubbish bags of the canton, so-called “Bebbi-Säcke”. You
can buy them at the till in most grocery shops.
Radio and TV
Radio and TV are subject to licence fees in Switzerland. It does not
matter whether radio, television, computer, tablet or mobile phone
are present or in use. Serafe has been tasked by the Confederation
with collecting the licensing fees. The licensing fees are paid per
household, not per device. Families, flat-sharing communities or
couples who live in the same household pay the fees only once.
2 3
Children, Youth and Families
Child care
In terms of childcare by non-family members, parents have the
choice between a number of options, including daycare centres
or day families. Facilities are available in all residential neighbour-
hoods.
Leisure
In Basel, families, youth and children are also well catered for when
it comes to leisure activities, with numerous local recreation areas
offering attractive locations to linger. In summer, open-air swimming
pools are very popular, while in winter, two ice rinks invite the popu-
Children, Youth and lation to turn a few rounds. Libraries, museums, children’s and youth
theatres, local meeting points and youth centres offer a wide range
Families
of leisure activities. On top of this, Basel boasts numerous public
playgrounds, parks and sports facilities.
The future plays a central role in Basel, where child- and family-
friendly policies are a matter of course in all sectors. Advice / counselling
A network of private and public institutions supports and helps fam-
Since 2013, Basel has held the Unicef “Child Friendly Community” ilies, parents, adolescents and children tackle problems or emer-
award. With respect to daycare for pre-school children, Basel also gencies. Among them are the children and youth service, the cen-
plays a leading role based on the citizens’ right to daycare which tre for early intervention, parent counselling, the family, couple and
is encoded in the constitution. educational counselling and the youth councelling.
4 5
Education
The canton of Basel-Stadt has a modern, high-quality school sys-
tem that meets the diverse needs of the children and young people
living here. In Switzerland education and training are in principle the
responsibility of the cantons.
6 7
Education Education
Early promotion of German are numerous associations and student bodies. The official rep-
Children who do not speak any or hardly any German attend a play- resentation of the students at the University of Basel is the “scuba”.
group or another similar institution for at least two half days per week This works not only for student participation, but also promotes
in the year before they start kindergarten to learn German in a play- student initiatives and organises its own cultural offerings.
ful way. This early promotion of German has been mandatory in Ba-
sel since 2013.
University of Applied Sciences and
Kindergarten, primary and secondary school Arts Northwestern Switzerland
Compulsory schooling comprises eleven years and is divided into In addition to the university, in the field of university-level education
the kindergarten, primary and secondary levels. Children attend the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzer-
kindergarten for two years, usually between the ages of five and land (FHNW) provides a high-quality range of educational pro-
seven. After that they attend primary school for six years. Here chil- grammes. The FHNW is a regionally anchored educational institu-
dren learn French starting in the third year and English starting in tion with a national and international reputation. It includes nine
the fifth year. After primary school all pupils attend the three-year schools, which cover the subjects of Engineering, Architecture and
secondary school. Depending upon their performance in school the Civil Engineering, Business, Life Sciences, Art and Design, Social
children are divided into three levels: A (general requirements), E Work, Teacher Education, Psychology and Music in teaching and
(expanded requirements) and P (high requirements). Kindergarten research. The FHNW has over 13,000 students. 1,000 of them come
and primary school offer day-care structures beyond the instruction: from abroad. Female students make up just above 50 percent. The
in exchange for a fee paid by the parents, children are looked after in University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland
day-care facilities at schools or for midday meals. During the school was founded by the cantons of Aargau, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-
holidays there are day and sports camps for children. In secondary Stadt and Solothurn. Just like the university, it is a self-administered
schools, the children also have the option of a lunchtime meal. In institute. Fees are 700 francs per semester.
the afternoons, the children can attend supervised learning centres
or recreational courses. In all schools core times are applied.
Private schools
Those who don’t want to make use of the free public schools can
Apprenticeships, vocational and technical make use of the services of a private educational institution in the
school certificates, academic secondary Basel region. These include the English-, French- or Italian-speaking
school international schools in Basel and the surrounding area. At individu-
Depending upon their performance in school and personal abilities al private schools a leaving certificate recognised throughout Swit-
and interests, after the eleven years of compulsory schooling young zerland can also be provided.
people have several possibilities. One of them is the two- to four-
year apprenticeship. A vocational school certificate during or after
the apprenticeship opens the way to studies at a college of higher Further education
education. Further possibilities are the four-year Fachmaturitäts- Basel also offers a wide choice in the area of further education: Un-
schule (vocational matriculation school) and the four-year second- der the designation “Advanced Studies” the University of Basel for
ary school. A diploma from a matriculation school entitles the holder example organises academic further education courses to be com-
to study at a college of advanced education, and the certificate pleted while working. The University of Applied Sciences and Arts
from a secondary school leads to a university. Northwestern Switzerland offers a diversified range of further edu-
cation possibilities in all its subject areas. Federal qualifications in
the field of higher vocational training can be obtained from public
University of Basel vocational colleges as well as private schools. The adult education
The University of Basel is the oldest university in Switzerland. It was centre of both Basel cantons offers numerous events in general fur-
founded in 1460 and today it is a modern university located in the ther education, language courses and post-literacy courses for
city centre with an attractive range of research, teaching and servic- adults. And for all people who have reached the age of 58, the
es. As a traditional comprehensive university it covers almost all “SeniorenUni” organises events in various fields of knowledge of
fields of study and includes seven faculties. By European standards the University of Basel. Adults who had no opportunity in their youth
the University of Basel is a rather small university. It counts 13,000 to attend a secondary school can obtain a canton school-leaving
students, nearly 3000 of them are doctoral candidates. The propor- certificate in the matriculation courses for working people (Matu-
tion of female students amounts around 55 per cent and a fifth of ritätskurse für Erwachsene [MfB]), which enables access to the Uni-
the students is from abroad. The University of Basel since 1996 has versity of Basel. In addition, adult education facilities offer vocational
enjoyed the status of a self-administered university – held today by qualification courses for adults.
the cantons of Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft. In Switzerland all
university students pay student fees; in Basel these amount to 850
francs per semester. The University of Basel offers a rich and diver-
sified student life. In addition to the range of university sports, there
8 9
Culture
Where culture is concerned, Basel has more to offer than cities of
comparable size. This has to do with the city’s history, its location
and the cosmopolitanism of the city and its inhabitants.
10 11
Culture Culture
Museums cultural festival “Floss”, which is performed on a raft in the Rhine in
The reputation of the Basel museums has made the city known the summer, represents a special feature. When world-famous stars
worldwide. The Basel Art Museum exhibits treasures by old mas- such as Rod Stewart, Zucchero or Alicia Keys come to Basel, they
ters, among them Hans Holbein, as well as modern classics. The are probably attending the BALOISE SESSION. Every autumn, top
integrated Haus für Gegenwartskunst houses an extensive con- international stars perform at the popular Swiss boutique music fes-
temporary art collection. But this is not the only museum known far tival, leaving the audience with memorable experiences. Further-
beyond the borders of the country. Other magnets for the public are more, at the Musical Theatre Basel, one of the most modern stages
the Foundation Beyeler in Riehen with its spectacular rotating exhi- in Europe, major musical events regularly take place.
bitions, the Museum of Antiquities, the Tinguely Museum and the
Museum of Cultures. One of Basel’s specialities is that the five public
museums cooperate closely with the numerous private museums, Cinema
and have issued a common Upper Rhine Museum Pass for the mu- In Basel film fans also get their money’s worth. The fact that films in
seums of the three-countries area. With this pass you have unlim- the cinema are shown in the original but with subtitles is considered
ited entry to the permanent and special exhibitions of around 345 a special feature of Switzerland. Films for children and young peo-
museums, castles and gardens in Germany, France (Alsace) and ple can, however, also be seen in a dubbed version. The choice
north-western Switzerland, and can take up to five children under ranges from the great multiplex cinema to the small city cinema.
the age of 18 free of charge.
Architecture
Theatre The cityscape of Basel with its numerous contrasts and sights also
In addition to the numerous museums, the Basel Theatre is a pillar belongs to the culture of the city. On the one hand, Basel has very
of the cultural city of Basel. It is run as a three-section operation with well preserved old city parts with buildings from the 13th and 14th
three stages at two sites, and offers numerous operas, plays and centuries. Above all the cathedral hill, the suburb of St. Alban and
ballet productions annually. The Basel Theatre has been honoured the streets between the market square and Petersplatz deserve a
several times as one of the best stages in the German-speaking mention. Besides that Basel offers first-class modern architecture
area. Numerous small and tiny stages complete the theatre and in a density offered by hardly any other European city. Among Ba-
dance offerings in Basel. sel’s architectural highlights are the 105-metre-high Messe tower
by architects Morger Degelo Marques and the St. Jakob-Park foot-
Among the many small theatres of the region there are several that ball stadium by Herzog & de Meuron. The new Novartis Campus
specialise in theatre productions for children and youth. English- next to the French border was realised with the participation of re-
speaking performances take place regularly in Basel, and in the nowned architects. The 205 meter high Roche office tower in Klein-
French Saint-Louis, the Théâtre La Coupole Saint-Louis is situated basel is the tallest office building in Switzerland. The first Roche
directly in front of the city gates. Tower, already completed in 2015, is 178 metres high. It is hardly
astonishing, therefore, that the Swiss Museum of Architecture is
A central municipal location for the free contemporary theatre, also located in Basel.
dance and performance scene as well as for concerts in the area of
popular musicis the Basel Kaserne (the old barracks). With its broad
range the Kaserne promotes exchanges between the artists, the
public and other art centres.
Music
The musical offering in Basel is extensive. For classical concerts the
city casino on Barfüsserplatz in the middle of the inner city is the
most important venue. This features not only outstanding local en-
sembles like the Basel Symphony Orchestra, the Basel Sinfonietta
and the Basel Chamber Orchestra, but also world-famous interna-
tional orchestras and soloists hold guest performances. In addition
numerous classical concerts such as those performed by the ba-
roque orchestra and vocal ensemble La Cetra are being staged in
churches throughout the city.
There are several jazz clubs in Basel, such as “the bird’s eye jazz
club” and there is also a series of festivals featuring all styles, from
Dixie to Swing and avantgarde jazz. In the areas of Rock, Hip-Hop,
Techno and other contemporary musical trends, several pubs in Ba-
sel and in the local area provide a varied and lively programme. The
12 13
Carnival
“Morgestraich”
The prelude to the “drey scheenschte Dääg” (“the three best days”)
comes in the form of the so-called “Morgestraich” at 4 in the morn-
ing on the Monday. Then all the city centre lights go out and Queen
Fasnacht picks up the torch in the city till Thursday. A traditional and
archaic-seeming tapestry of sound from innumerable piccolos and
drums pervades the town. With their wild and brightly coloured cos-
tumes the merry Fasnacht crowd roams through the narrow lanes of
the old town until dusk begins to fall. The only sources of light are
powerful hand-painted lanterns.
Carnival
“Cortège”
On the Monday afternoon (and on Wednesday too) there is the great
procession, the “Cortège”, when hundreds of cliques, “Guggemusi-
For three days once a year there’s a very special atmosphere in Ba- ken” and decorated floats pass through the streets of outer and in-
sel: it’s the three days of the Basel Fasnacht (Carnival), always in the ner Basel. In Basel “Guggemusiken” mean wind and percussion
week following Ash Wednesday. groups, which can be described as a mix between Big Bands and
strange noise machines.
Fasnacht Tuesday
Tuesday traditionally belongs to the children, who make their way
through the town and suburbs in small groups (“Schissdrägzygli”).
In the evening on Münsterplatz the over two hundred lanterns that
had made their grand entrance at the Morgestraich can be admired
in peace. At the same time the Guggemusiken take over the inner
city acoustically with their concerts.
“Schnitzelbängg”
There is intense activity in the pubs over these three days. In so-
called “Schnitzelbängg” – humorous, and sometimes sarcastic
mocking verses – in which the political and social events of the past
months are scoffed at and commented on.
Origin
Etymologically the Basel Fasnacht can be traced back to the Lent
fasting period, and the date is determined by the Christian feast
days: The Basel Fasnacht always takes place six weeks before
Easter, thus a week later than in the Catholic German-speaking area,
and the afternoons of the Monday and Wednesday are declared of-
ficial public holidays in Basel.
14 15
Green areas
Leisure gardens
Those who don’t have a garden can rent a leisure garden. The can-
ton rents out leisure gardens around the city.
Recreation zones
One can also find recreation at the “Birsköpfli” on the edge of the
city, where the little river Birs flows into the Rhine. Or a walk along
the Wiese, another tributary of the Rhine. In the surrounding woods
there are numerous open hearths for evening barbecues. In the vi-
cinity of the Spalentor in the city centre the University of Basel has a
botanical garden with a Sukkulentenhaus (succulents greenhouse)
Green areas and the Viktoriahaus dating from 1898. In the “Merian Gärten” in
front of the city gates, visitors can enjoy an English landscape park,
a medicinal plant garden and the rhododendron valley. The Regio-
The canton of Basel-Stadt is indeed a city canton, but it offers in and Grüngürtel (regional green belt) around Basel is the main green
around the town a large number of green spaces, ranging from pock- artery for leisure and recreation. It is also the habitat of several thou-
et parks in empty lots to the extensive city park on former graveyard sand animal and plant types, including some very rare and threat-
grounds. ened species.
Zoo and animal park
Basel’s zoological garden – “dr Zolli”, as it is called here – is Switzer-
land’s oldest animal park. It was founded in 1874, and today the
“Zolli” displays a blend of modern, animal-friendly facilities with
magnificent old buildings in a green oasis in the immediate proxim-
ity of the train station. In the recreation area of the same name is the
Lange Erlen animal park. This is smaller than the zoo and features
primarily domestic animals.
Ship and ferry
Boat trips on the Rhine are also very popular. The Basel passenger
boat company offers regular and special passenger trips through-
out the year both near and beyond the city.
And if you just wish to cross the Rhine to the other bank, then you
should try one of the four ferries in Basel. These noiseless craft use
the currents of the Rhine to reach the other bank without additional
power. And besides, when one doesn’t quite believe something,
then one says in Basel: “Verzell doch das em Fäärimaa!” – Just tell
that to the ferryman!
‐
16 17Sport
Popular sport
The possibilities for popular sport are virtually unlimited. More than
200 sports clubs are active in Basel, the list of sports on offer is long
and includes numerous water, ball, combat and track sports. And
every year there is also the car-free movement and experience day
“slowUp” in the Basel region.
Those who prefer to keep fit on an individual basis can enjoy the city
and its surroundings by cycling, skating, inline skating, playing golf,
riding or paragliding. There’s also a wide choice indoors, from aqua-
jogging to yoga. The public sports facilities in Basel are popular
public and family meeting points.
Sport Youth development
Sport has its place in all forms and facets of city life. Enthusiasts Youth encouragement and development takes pride of place in
can choose from a very wide range of individual and team sports, sport. Many clubs run their own junior sections. The canton, the mu-
as there are excellent facilities for both popular and competitive nicipalities and the Confederation support the sporting activities of
sporting activities. A multitude of fitness offerings complete the young people.
traditional sports opportunities in Basel.
Basel as a sports city
Basel’s reputation as a sporting city is based on clubs such as the
Basel Football Club (FCB). The home games draw crowds averag-
ing over 25,000 in the St. Jakob-Park (“Joggeli”). Basel also hosts
on an annual basis top-class sporting events such as the interna-
tional tennis tournament Swiss Indoors, the Badminton Swiss Open
or the Longines CHI.
18 19Health
Health insurance
Compulsory health insurance covers the costs of treatment in the
event of illness, whereby the health insurance funds are organised
within the private sector and there is no state health insurance fund
in Switzerland. Basic insurance is compulsory for all inhabitants –
including for foreigners with residence permits – and various addi-
tional insurances can be taken out on a voluntary basis. However, in
the case of these additional services the health insurance funds are
free to decide whom they accept or do not accept in the insurance
plans. In the basic insurances, on the other hand, the funds may not
reject any application.
Hospitals
The University Hospital of Basel is one of the largest medical centres
Health
in Switzerland with highly recognised international standards. The The canton of Basel-Stadt guarantees the highest quality of medical
doctors and nurses work on the basis of the latest scientific knowl- care for all its inhabitants due to a differentiated health system. The
edge for the well-being, safety and recovery of the patients. Other basis for this is an insurance system that functions in a uniform man-
independent public and private hospitals also offer high-quality ner throughout Switzerland.
medical care in all disciplines.
Children
In the field of healthcare children also have an important place in
Basel. The University Children’s Hospital of both Basels (UKBB) is
an autonomous university skills centre offering high-quality med-
icine in an environment designed for children. The School Dental
Clinic is a public institution that was founded in 1921 for the benefit
of the dental health of Basel children and young people. Already at
that time the idea was to open a dental clinic where all children of
the Canton of Basel-Stadt could be treated – irrespective of their
family’s financial situation.
Old age
Basel-Stadt has an extensive range of support services for the el-
derly. The Long-term Care Division of the Department of Health, as
the canton’s central information and specialist unit, is familiar with
and coordinates all the services on offer.
‐
20 21Integration
Integration model
An integration model was developed for Basel-Stadt in 1999 and
was further supplemented in 2012, which to this day is leading the
way far beyond the town of Basel with its basic principle of promot-
ing and supporting, but also through the awareness of its diversity
and the use of its potential.
Advice and contact points
Immigrants in Basel have at their disposal a comprehensive net-
work of advice and contact points. GGG Migration is the compe-
tence centre for integration in Basel-Stadt. Its employees advise
Integration private individuals in over 13 languages and offer information in an
advisory capacity to professionals and employers. GGG Migration
provides information pertaining to social, legal, and personal prob-
The residential and economic location of Basel-Stadt is character- lems, as well as intercultural issues and supports networking with
ised by its internationality and immigration. People from 160 coun- other people and institutions.
tries live and work here, and practically every other marriage is
between two nationalities. The Customer service centre for Migration and Population Services
is the contact point for questions regarding residency and housing
The immigrants and locals should feel comfortable and be successful (registrations, notices of departure, relocations, changes of tenan-
in this urban diversity. To this end Basel-Stadt pursues an active inte- cy, address information, etc.) and permits and ID cards (passports,
gration and anti-discrimination policy that covers all aspects of life. residence permits and cross-border commuter permits, family res-
idence permits, attestations, certificates).
Offerings
Among the many offerings is, for example, the series of events
“Welcome to Basel”, which is provided for new arrivals several times
a year. At these evening events specialists provide information on
the most important everyday subjects such as residence status, la-
bour law and the educational system. At the “Welcome to the neigh-
bourhood” event held every year, the canton and district organisa-
tions inform the residents from the various districts about life in their
neighbourhood. In addition city tours are offered for new residents,
conducted in several languages and covering the most important
topics such as transport, post, health, shopping tips, cultural and
leisure activities. This selection is complemented by many other of-
ferings from private providers.
Languages and integration courses
An essential factor for integration is language. A broad range of lan-
guage and integration courses is available in the canton so that all
those interested can find a suitable language course. The courses
are subsidised in part by the canton.
22 23Economy and employment
Employment conditions
The first two or three months of employment are usually considered
as a trial with a notice period varying from a few days to a maximum
of two weeks. After attaining permanent employment status the no-
tice period is increased to between one and six months. Working
hours are between 40 and 42.5 hours per week with at least 4 weeks
paid vacation per year. Salaries are generally paid on a monthly ba-
sis. A 13th month salary is common and often established by law. In
many companies it is usual to award a discretionary bonus when
business is good.
Economy and
Work permits
People from the EU and EFTA countries benefit from the free move-
employment
ment of people agreements: short-term working visits only have to
be reported. A work or residence permit is required for visits lasting
more than three months; these can be applied for at the Customer
The Basel economic region is among the most productive and in- service centre for Migration and Population Services.
novative in the world. Within Switzerland Basel is the region with the
greatest economic momentum. Special rules for admission to the labour market apply to individuals
from countries that are not members of the EU or EFTA. The employ-
About 200,000 people from Switzerland and the surrounding areas er has to submit their application for a work permit to the cantonal
work here. Behind this success lie the knowledge-based industries. authorities. The approval of the State Secretariat for Migration in
These include in particular the life sciences sector with large phar- Bern is also required.
maceutical companies and biomedical research that have tradi-
tionally been very strong in Basel. Social security
Whoever works in Switzerland is subject to the Swiss system of so-
cial security. This applies both to Swiss and foreigners. Even those
who are not working are subject to the same system of social se-
curity in many areas. Basically every person is insured individually
in Switzerland. For this, contributions must be made that entitle the
person to corresponding benefits. Switzerland has a close-knit net-
work of social insurances which includes unemployment insurance,
family allowances, protection against the consequences of illness
and accident, and loss of income due to maternity.
Old age / retirement provisions
Retirement provisions are based on three pillars: the first pillar, old-
age, survivors’ and disability insurance (AHV / IV) is a general pub-
lic insurance, serving to secure subsistence. The second pillar re-
fers in Switzerland to occupational pensions (BV). Together with the
first pillar, it is intended to safeguard the continuation of one’s habit-
ual standard of living. Finally the third pillar consists of individual
voluntary pension provisions.
24 25Fairs and markets
Autumn fair
The high point of Basel’s fair calendar is the Autumn Fair. “D’Mäss”,
as the Baslers call this event, begins two weeks before Martinstag
(Martin’s day) and is heralded on the opening Saturday at noon pre-
cisely by the fair bells of St Martin’s Church. It ends on the third fol-
lowing Sunday. The festival begins with many merry-go-rounds and
booths on seven city squares and in a fair hall. At the same time on
Petersplatz the market stands open.
City and weekly markets
The city market on the Marktplatz (market square) is a highly colour-
ful event where an abundance of delicacies and specialities are on
offer. These include vegetables and fruits, flowers, meat products,
mushrooms, honey, wine, coffee, dry goods, breads and handmade
Fairs and markets
products, tea and much more. The city market takes place from In the year 1471 the city of Basel was granted the right to hold fairs.
Tuesday through Wednesday until 2 pm and Friday and Saturday The city thus has a centuries-old tradition, and today Basel is a pop-
until 6 pm. The “Schlemmer-Markt” is a gourmet market held at ular fair and congress venue with its top-class cultural and hotel
Marktplatz every Monday and offers a wide variety of delicious offerings.
foods and beverages. Numerous other markets are held in the dis-
tricts, creating a friendly atmosphere with quality, freshness and
customer proximity. Market stalls selling fresh produce and deli-
cious menus lure shoppers in under the great dome of the old mar-
ket hall at the railway station. The market hall is open every day, but
what is on offer varies depending on the time of day and which day
of the week it is.
The new goods market on Barfüsserplatz in the city centre offers
every Thursday all kinds of ware: jewellery, arts and crafts from
around the world, decorations, gourmet food and clothes are just a
few examples. There’s also plenty of choice of food and drink.
Flea markets
The flea market on Petersplatz is a popular meeting place on Sat-
urdays for everyone who likes second-hand goods. From fine an-
tiques to overalls, here one can find everything one needs for daily
life – at very attractive prices. In the middle of the square children
can sell their toys free of charge. And twice a month during the
week there’s the Wednesday flea market on Barfüsserplatz with a
wide variety of rare objects and treasures. And a number of flea
markets set up by individuals for individuals take place through-
out the year in different districts of Basel.
Christmas market
In December Basel turns into a Christmas city: the great Christmas
market is set up on Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz. From mulled
wine to ice trees, arts and crafts to Christmas tree decorations, chil-
dren’s toys to seasonal delicacies, there’s something for everyone.
In addition there’s a children’s programme with handicraft work-
shops and candle-making.
26 27Mobility
On foot
There are about 100 strolling zones – where pedestrians have right
of way over all road vehicles – and far-reaching 30 km / h zones,
which make walking in Basel a pleasant and safe experience. The
pedestrian orientation system “Basel Info” with information boards
and grey signs makes it easier to find interesting places.
By bicycle
Basel is a cycle-friendly town with a bicycle network that runs
through the whole region (red signs). Velospot and Pick-e-Bike offer
each a rental system with e-bikes, e-scooters and cargo bikes can
Mobility also be rented.
The Canton of Basel-Stadt has an excellent infrastructure for all Public Transport
modes of transport. Basel places a great deal of importance on Basel has an extensive, cross-border public transport network that
road users being able to travel in harmony. boasts numerous connections and reliable punctuality. The train
stations of Basel SBB and the Badischer Bahnhof connect Basel
with the national and international long-distance and regional lines.
The inexpensive “Umweltabonnement”, a monthly environmental-
ly-friendly travel card, covers all means of public transport as bus,
tram or train in the area of the Tarifverbund Nordwestschweiz TNW.
The travel card is available from all TNW transport companies. In-
dividual Tickets (“Billette”) and multi-journey tickets must be pur-
chased before the start of your journey or validated. They can be
obtained on the Internet, smartphone app or from the ticket ma-
chines at almost every bus, train or tram stop. With the Halbtax-Abo
(half-fare card) you can purchase public transport tickets in Switzer-
land at reduced prices. The general season ticket (GA) allows un-
limited travel on almost the entire public transport network in Swit-
zerland. There are also attractive ticketing and information services
for trips on public transport across the border. Timetables are avail-
able on the respective transport company’s website or via a smart-
phone app.
By car
You must buy a parking ticket if you want to park on public property
in the town. Local residents can obtain a parking card, which allows
them to park on blue marked parking areas in their neighbourhood
without any time restrictions. Visitors arriving by car can obtain half-
day or day parking tickets from public transport ticket machines or
on the Internet. Before travelling on a motorway, you must purchase
a toll sticker, which is valid for one calendar year. Car sharing is very
common: Mobility offers 140 vehicles at many locations in Basel.
Airport
The EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg is located three kilo-
metres away from the outskirts of Basel-Stadt. It can be reached
by bus number 50 in about a quarter of an hour from Basel SBB
train station.
28 29Politics
City and communes
With its 37 square kilometres and about 200,000 inhabitants the
canton of Basel-Stadt is the smallest canton in Switzerland. It con-
sists of the city of Basel and the rural communes of Riehen and Bet-
tingen, which possess autonomy as communes and are thus enti-
tled to manage their own affairs.
Cantonal Parliament
As a Swiss rarity the Great Council, the Basel Cantonal Parliament,
is also responsible for the communal affairs of the city of Basel. The
Great Council consists of 100 members and is re-elected every four
years. It sits twice a month in the Basel Town Hall in public sessions.
Politics
Executive Council Switzerland has a federal structure and so the cantons have a
The executive council consists of seven members with equal rights, relatively great freedom of action. Each canton has its own con-
who are elected for four-year terms. The President of the Executive stitution, own laws and courts, and it is the cantons that raise
Council has representative duties and presides over the Depart- direct taxes. In addition there is the principle: what is not expressly
ment of Presidential Affairs, the other six government members stated in the Federal constitution as a Federal competence falls
each head up one of the specialised departments. On the cantonal under the competence of the cantons. However, the autonomy of
level a department can be compared to a “Dezernat”; the depart- the cantons has limits. Where a Federal law exists it takes prece-
ments on Federal level correspond to ministries. dence over cantonal law.
States councillors and national councillors As in every democratic system the political system of the Can-
ton of Basel-Stadt is characterised by the interplay and oppos-
On the Federal level Switzerland has a Parliament, consisting of two
ing forces of parliament and government. A central element is also
chambers: the Council of States represents the cantons, the Nation-
the participation of the population and of parties and associations
al Council the whole population. In the States Council each canton
in the political and legislative process.
has two representatives, in the National Council each canton is rep-
resented in function of its population. As a half-canton Basel-Stadt
has one States Councillor. In the National Council Basel-Stadt is
from the 2023 elections represented by four delegates.
People’s rights
Swiss citizens over 18 years of age have the right to vote: they can
elect representatives to Parliament on the communal, cantonal and
national level and can also stand for election themselves. The gov-
ernments of the Canton and the communes of Riehen and Bettin-
gen are also elected by the population. The right to vote also gives
the Swiss the possibility of expressing themselves on whether or not
they agree with new laws. Furthermore they can themselves pro-
pose changes to the law through the right to initiate legislation and
bring it to a vote. Through the right to a referendum a popular vote
can be required on parliamentary decisions after they have been
taken. By means of a petition, people can file a request, suggestion
or complaint in writing to any regulatory or enforcing authority, irre-
spective of their voting right status – i.e. this includes foreigners and
children.
30 31Politics
Executive council
Beat Jans
President of the Executive Council
Head of Department of Presidential Affairs
Dr. Lukas Engelberger
Vice-President of the Executive Council
Head of Department of Public Health
Dr. Conradin Cramer
Head of Department of Education
Dr. Tanja Soland
Head of Department of Finance
Dr. Stephanie Eymann
Head of Department of Justice and Security
Kaspar Sutter
Head of Department of Economic, Social and
Environmental Affairs
Esther Keller
Head of Department of Public Works and
Transport
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